Troy High School Principal Margaret Buchan is retiring after 39 years in education. Her future plans are still forming, but will include more time with her grandchild. COURTESY OF TROY HIGH SCHOOL

After 39 years working in education and seven years as principal of Troy High School, Margaret Buchan will be retiring this year.

With an academic performance index rating of 932 and the lauded Troy Tech and International Baccalaureate programs, it is one of the highest performing high schools in Orange County. Buchan will be succeeded by current Segerstrom High School Principal Amy Avina.

Buchan spoke a little bit about her time at Troy.

Q. What has been your best experience working at Troy High School and how has your experience compared to the other high schools that you have worked at?

A. I think that Troy is an exceptional place. I think that it is a culture of high expectation for students, staff and parents. We are really a traditionally college-bound population and it's been very positive to be able to work in that climate. I think that what's different about Troy, this culture of high expectation for all students that really makes a difference.

Q. The Troy Tech and IB programs are a large part of Troy academics. How have they advanced?

A. We have looked at Troy Tech and recognized that we wanted to evolve it into greater pathways. The most recent development is that we have added a four-year component for media, so we now have yearlong courses in media arts in two levels and that goes on into IB film class and then a production class, which is new. We have a state-of-the-art production studio that is absolutely fabulous.

The other pathway is leadership and our NJROTC program has evolved to over 400 students and they are nationally recognized as a superior program and that happen since my partnership here.

I think the other piece that has just been incredible is to be a part of the Science Olympiad competitive teams and to have been lucky enough to travel with them to nationals and witness their three-peat as Science Olympiad champions. In the seven years that I have been here they have been no lower than fifth. They have just been doing exceptional work.

Q. What's been the greatest challenge throughout your career as a principal?

A. I think that the challenges are the time commitment, the involvement it takes to be a successful principal. I think that the expectation is being a visible supporter of all of the programs. And that is time consuming to be able to do that. On the same token I have such incredibly good staff that are here that supports it and makes it all come together. But I think for any principal nowadays, I think they will see the time and energy it takes to be all things to all people... it's very time-consuming and physically challenging.

Q. Who will be Troy's new principal and what challenges will she face in her career there?

A. Her name is Dr. Amy Avina. She's coming to Troy from Segerstrom in Santa Ana. I think that the same challenge that I faced when I came will face Dr. Avina. That is, this is a very successful academic school and you want to be able to continue to move the school forward and continue to have the school be successful. We are trying to make sure that we are opening up access for all students so that if they want to be in an AP or IB, or in the honors program, that we are opening up access and making sure that we are serving all students and that continues to be a challenge in these economic times in order to be able to offer some of those classes.

Q. What's next for you personally? What do you plan to do in your retirement?

A. I don't intend to work for the first six months. I want to give myself that time to see what it's like to not do that, but I intend to volunteer. I'd like to be a reader at an elementary school and help students be more successful in accomplishing that.

One of my colleagues does German shepherd rescue. I hope to be a dog walker and help with that.

I want to see what this retirement thing is all about and then make a decision. I have a grandchild now who is the apple of his grandma's eye, and I need to be able to see him more and we are expecting our second grandchild. So being a grandma is also very important here.

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